Pneumatic conveying machine



Jan. 10, 1950 R. c. ANDRES PNEUNATIC CONVEYING MACHINE 3 Shets-Sheet 2Filed April 28, 1947 /PWY chf/751:15 HND/nis,

Jam. m, 195@ R. c. ANDRES PNEUMMIC CONVEYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3NNW..

Filed April 28, 1947 www Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNIIED,v `STAT PNEUMATICCONVEYING MACHINE Ray Charles Andi-eg` Big Rapids, Mich., assignor toHome Protection Company, Inc., a corporal tion of Michigan ApplicationApril 28, 1947,'Serial No. 744,399

12 claims'. (Cl. 3oz- 17) This invention relates to pneumatic conveying.machines of the type employing a-hopper or other-suitable means-forvsupplying fluent solid materialsjsuch as .usual finely divided orfloccu-v lent building insulation material, to the pneu-. maticconveyer, V.and more. particularly to feed regulating mechanismincorporated insuch a ma-f chine for automatically controlling thetransferl of material `from the hopper to/thepneumatic conveyerresponsive to changes inthe operative condition of the conveyer.v

Insuch machines :the discharge end of` the usual conveyer tube orconduitis generallydisposed at some distancefrom the remainder of the machine.In many fields-,of use, as for instance in the application of insulatingmaterial to the walls or other portionsjofa building, it is highlydesirable thataworkman handling the discharge end of'said tube. shouldbe able to stop and resume the .discharge of *material at will,V easilyand .quickly-.as .by .closing -the discharge opening of said tube.Heretoforawhere this was attempted, itinvariably -resultedin the machinebecoming vplugged or'clogged withmaterial due to the fact that thematerial continued to flow from the hopper into thefpneumatic conveyerdespite the closing of the latter. This made it necessary to delegatethe control-of the material flow to a second workman stationed at-themaf1 chine Who acted in accordanceg..with verbal or` signalledinstructions from .the-first workman.

The present invention has. been conceivedr and developed with theforegoing considerations in mind, and consequently has for its broadprimary object to providea pneumatic .conveying machine in which theconveyer dischargevmay beV closed offa's desired to* interrupt the.flowZ of fmaterial Without resulting in clogging or jamming a`saforementioned, so that subsequent opening of the discharge openingiwillcauseV an immediate resumption of the ow' and discharge of mate-` rial.i' l A further object is tov provide in such amachine novel feedregulating `mechanism for attaining the foregoing broad object.

A still' further Objectis toi-provide improved means for regulating-.thevolume of'flow of ma. terial through the conveyer. 1 1

To accomplish these :objects Iprovide in such a machine a hollow rotaryvshaft having its interior in communication with the pneumaticconveyer,'the hopperor. other-supply means being arrangedtosupplymaterial .to the cylindrical exterior of the shaft..'-.Theshaftlisffproyided with a spiral intake slot or port to permitentryof the material to its hollow interior, the arrange, ment beingsuch thatthe material received ing'. teriorly of the shaft is permittedto move Vaxially into the uid current of the pneumatic conveyer.Adjacent and preferably contiguous to the intake port is anexternallyprojecting spiral iiange, andY the rotation of the shaft is insuch a direction?.

that this flange urgesthe material exteriorly ofv the shaft in an axialdirection reverse tofthe in` terior flow of material in said shaft.Interiorly of the shaft thereis provided an agitator .having portionsadapted to brush across the spiral in-.l take slot during rotation ofthe shaft. Preferably' the airpintake for, the conveyer is interposedbetween the conveyerand the feed .regulating` mechanism, and` asuitablevalveis applied thereto to regulate thejvolumeof flow of air andma-fterial through the conveyer.; l

The combinedaction oflthese aforementioned elements of the feedregulating mechanism is such that a constant flow of loosely .packedfinely. divided material` is delivered to the pneumatic conveyer as longas asufcient flow of air con-3 tinues therethrough. .,l-Ioweverwhen thisairI flow interrupted at any point', as Vby the operarVIA tor placinghis'jhand-over -or otherwise vclosing or obstructing the d ischargegendof the conveyer; tube, the material is permitted to accumulate in thejhollow shaftuntil same becomesrsubstantially full of materialy which ismaintained there-l inrin a loose, unpacked, free flowing condition.-ThisY accumulated material acts in conjunction with thestationaryagitator and the spiral flange to prevent the admission ofadditional material such as would pak into and clog the hollow shaftand/or conveyer, and said accumulated materialv is thus maintained readyfor passage through the conveyer uponresumption ofthe air nowtherethrough.

AIn this invention AIgshoW and describe only the preferred' embodimentof.' my invention simply by way of illustration-.of the practicethereof, as by law required. Howeyerf I. recognize that my. invention iscapableof other anddifferent embodiments; and that the'variousA detailsthereof may be modified,V Tall Without departing from said invention.Therefore the drawings and description herein are tobe consideradasmerely illustra-tive and not as exclusive. l

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of apneumaticconveying machine embodying the pre.- ferred form ofthe-invention; u

Figure 2, an end elevationV of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Referring now in detail to the accompanying" drawings, the referencecharacter I designates a feed box or chamber which in the presentembodiment is of cuboidal external shape opening upwardly to receivematerial thereinto. Interiorly, said feed box is preferably providedwith an upwardly opening sheet metal 'channel or trough (designated bythe reference character Ia in Figure 2) having a rounded bottomconcentric to the rotary hollow shaft 23 of the feed regulatingmechanism to direct the material into engagement therewith. This troughpreferably has upwardly diverging arcuate sides or extensions Ibconcentric with the rotary agitator shaft I4 to permit said agitator toreadily engage the material passing between said sides.

Suitable means for supporting the feed box I may comprise a generallyrectangular base 2 having rigid supporting legs 3 secured to therespective corners of the feed box I as shown, the base 2 and legs 3being fabricated from usual angle iron stock and assembled in usualmanner. If desired, the base 2 may be provided with a rigid metal handle4 to facilitate moving and positioning of the machine.

In order to deliver material to the feed box I a usual solid materialconveying or supplying device such as the hopper 5 is utilized. Such ahopper 5 is shown mounted on the feed box I to discharge materialthrough its lower constricted end or throat into the feed box. In rthepreferred embodiment, the throat of the hopper is provided with adepending marginal ange 6 conforming in shape and dimensions to theintake opening of the vfeed box I to be snugly received therein. Thehopper 5 and feed box I'y are maintained in this assembled relation byusual means such as bolts 1 extending between and connected to brackets8 and 9 respectively mounted on said feed box I and hopper 5. Y Y

Since it is desirable to deliver a constant flow of material to the feedbox I in a loose free flowing condition, the hopper 5 is preferablyprovided with a usual oscillating shaker, and a rotary agitator isdisposed in the feed box therebeneath. The shaker comprises a rock shaftII carrying a plurality of spaced parallel arms I2, the ends of theshaft Il being journalled foroscillation through bearings I3', I3mounted in opposite end Walls of the hopper 5.

The rotary agitator comprises a shaft I4 carrying a plurality of radialbeater arms I5, the ends of this shaft being rotatablyjournalled throughbearings I6, IG respectively mounted in opposite end walls ofy the feedbox I.

On one of the externally projecting ends of the shaft I4 is fixed ausual sheave I"I which may be driven by a belt 30 from a drive sheave29, as shown.

On the opposite end of said shaft I4 is fixed a crank I8 carrying aroller I9. A cooperating crank arm carried by the corresponding end ofrock shaft II is provided at its free end with spaced parallel walls 2 Idefining between them a linear channel in which theroller I9 may work toimpart an oscillatingV or rocking movement to the shaker shaft I I.

It will thus be apparent that the shaker and agitator aforementionedwill cause a continuous supply of finely divided loosely packed materialto descend through the hopper into the feed box, to be acted on by thefeed regulating means of the invention.

The feed regulating means or mechanism of the invention which serves totransfer the material from the feed box to the pneumatic conveyer 22,comprises a hollow cylindrical sleeve or shaft 23 extending across theinterior of the feed box substantially coaxially in the trough Ia, withone end portion projecting through an end of said feed box Aelongatedbearing 25 for rotation about a horizontal axis. The other end of saidshaft projects through the Opposite end of the feed box to be looselyreceived in a housing 24a, the clearance between the shaft 23 andhousing 24a being sufficient to prevent packing of materialtherebetween.

One end 24 of the shaft 23 opens axially within.

the housing 24a to function as a discharge porty communicating-with thehollow interior of the shaft.

Welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the shaft. 23 within the feed boxI is a radially projecting spiral fiange or-impeller 2G which is soarranged relative to the direction of rotation of the shaft and thedischarge end 24 of said shaft as to urge the material in the trough Iaaxially away from the discharge end 24 in a direction reverse tothepassage of material interiorly of said shaft. To. prevent the flange 26from forcing the materiall into the bearing 25 it is desirable toprovide a. suitably located annular baffle 21 which may be welded tosaid shaft 23.

Material is admitted to the interior of the shaft. 23 through a spiralintake slot or port 28, which is disposed to lead the fia-nge 26 inrotation and has its rear or following edge substantially contiguous tosaid flange.

Any suitable means may be employed for ro. tating the shaft 23 in theproper direction, as in` dicated by the arrow in Figure 3, the samemeans also preferably being employed to drive the rotary agitator shaftI4 aforementioned. To this end in the illustrated embodiment the end ofshaft 23 opposite to the discharge end 24 thereof projects externally ofthe feed box I through the bearing 25 and is provided with a drivensheave 3 I' which is secured thereon to receive rotation by belt 3B froma suitable power source.

Such a power source may consist Yof a conventional electric motor Mwhich imparts rotation through the belt 32 and speed reduction sheave 33to a drive shaft 34, on which is mounted the drive sheave or pulleywheel 29v aforementioned. In the embodiment shown, thisshaft 34. isjournalled in bearings 35, 35 mounted on the side of the feed box I, asshown in Figure 1.

The aforementioned belt 3B is passed around this drive pulleyv 29 andthe driven pulleys 3I and II to transmit rotation to. both of the shafts23 and II.

Disposed coaxially within the feed regulator shaft 23- is a xed agitatorwhich prevents the material within the shaft 23 from rotating therewith.This agitator comprises a stationary shaft 36 which carries a series ofradially projecting studs or arms 31 preferably arranged in staggeredrelation and axially coextensive with the slot 28,. At their free ends,these arms 3.1- are preferably in near engagement with the interior ofthe, shaft In order to accurately center the shaft -35 within,

the hollow shaft 23 and at the same time close the driven end of saidshaft 23 against the admission of air, suitable sealing means may beprovidedas shown in broken lines in Figure '4. Such means comprises abushing 4I supported incoaxial rela-V l tion on the shank 40 by means ofbearings 42 and 43 respectively rotatable 'on the shank 40; The diameterof the bushing 4I is such that it makes a reasonably snug flt into theend of the hollow shaft 23. Axial Vdispla cement of the bearings 4,'2and 43 is prevented infine. direction by the annular shoulder 44 formedon the shank40 to engage bearing 42, anda pin 45 driven through theshank 46 prevents movement of the bearing 43111 the1 o ther axialdirection. If desired, a suitable bearing shield 46 maybe threaded onthe shank 40 to prevent lmaterial from entering thebearingil,Av .Y

The pneumatic conveyor -22 may beof any usual type, and may be coupled tthehollow shaft 2 3 in any suitable manner to receive material from theinterior thereof. In the preferred embodiment 0f theinvention thepneumatic conveyor 22 is in the form of a usual centrifugal blowersupported on a platform 4l adjacent the discharge end vof the hollowshaft 2 3, the blower andplatform being shown fragmentarilyin Figure `1Yof the drawings. This Vblewer 22 hesite intake. disposed in com-`munication with thedischargeend 2 4 of th e h0 1 low shaft 23 bycoupling means preferably having an air intake control valve interposedtherein to regulate the volume of flow of material.

In the illustrated arrangement, this air control valve is in the form ofa bushing 43 having one end snuglyreceived and secured in lthe housing24a with its interior in communication with the discharge end of thehollow shaft 2 3. Formed through the cylindrical wallk of this bushingis a circumferentially extending air intake slot 49. A valvesleeveBrotatable onthis bushing 4 8 is formed with a similar circumferentiallyextending slot l. An actuatinghandle 52 is provided to facilitate rotaryadjustment-,of the valve sleeve 5 0 so that the slots or apertures 49and 5| may bejplaced in or out of registryto varying degrees, therebyvarying the intake of air to the blower 22.

In addition to this valve, the coupling means also preferably comprisesa suitable adaptor bushing or fitting 53 which is conformably receivedin the intake of the blower 22. Between this fitting 53 and the valvebushing 48 is interposed a usual flexible hose coupling 54 to preventthe transmission of vibration between these respective parts.

The blower 22 discharges into a preferably flexible hose or conduit 55which may be conveniently manipulated to convey the material to variouslocations. v l

In the operation of the invention, the hopper 5 is maintained full of-flocculent insulating or other fluent solid material which descendsthrough th delivered into the trough la of the feed box I in a looselydivided unpacked condition.

Upon arrival in the feed box trough la this material is ,engaged andagitated by the spiral flange 26 of the shaft 23. Said spiral flange 26agitates the material and prevents it from packing against the shaft 23while urging said material away from ther discharge end of shaft 23 inan axial direction. Said material is gradually per--` mitted fto enter.the interior. of v:shaft A23 Vthrough the intake slot 28, nwhereupon itis further `agitated and prevented from packing or caking by the actionof the agitator arms 31 in conjunction with the rotating shaft 23. Thismaterial interiorly of the shaft is free to work axially towards vandthrough the discharge end of shaft 23, where it-is picked up by the aircurrent entering through the valve apertures 49 and 5| and carriedthrough the. pneumatic conveyor 22 to be discharged through the flexiblehose 55. When ,theflow of air through the conveyor` 22 isinterrupted inanymanner,y as by the operator closing the discharge yend of the hose55. the material willtcontinue to enter and accumulate in the shaft 23.until samebecomes substantially full. 'This` accumulated material ismaintained ina loose free flowing condition by the stationary agitatoras aforementionedand such accumulated loosematerial, together with theagitator arms 3 1 in brushing across the'intake slot 2 8, preyents entryofy additional material through said slot, `thuselirninating'gpackingvand jamming of material within the shaft 23` l Ihespiral flange v 2tcooperates in this by backing up the materialexteriorly of the shaft 23 and agitating said mate-l rial to prevent itfrompacking into the slot 28j,Y

The material, 4both* exteriorly and interiorly of the shaft 23, isthusmaintained in a loose free flowing condition in readinessto proceedinto and through the shaftr2-3kupon resumption of the air current I twill thus lbeapparent"that a workman manipulatingthe discharge end ofthe conveyor hose, regardless` ofhis location relative to the remainder0f the machine, will'be'able to cut off and resume the discharge ofmaterial at will, simply by closing the discharge end of the hose, andthis may be done without danger of clogging the machine thus eliminatingthe difculties enumerated in the introductoryportion thereof. l

VHaving thus illustrated and described my inventior1,I claim:

l. .Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feedingoffluent solid materials from a hopper into-the fluid-current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, an upwardly opening trough of larcuate cross sectiondisposed within said feed box, a cylindrical hollow shaft journalleo.horizontally across said feed box within and substantially coaxial tosaid trough, said shaft having axially opening ends projectingexteriorly from said feed box, one of said open ends serving as amaterial discharge port and being in communication with said conveyer tosupply material thereto, and means defining an air intake for thepneumatic conveyer immediately adjacent the discharge port, incombination with a radially outwardly projecting spiral flange formed onsaid shaft within said feed box, means for rotating said shaft in adirection whereby said flange will urge the material engaged thereby inan axial direction away from said discharge port, said shaft beingformed with shaker and rotary agitator aforementioned to be L5 a spiralintake slotopening throughits cylindrical wall into the hollowiinteriorthereof, said slot being contiguous'to and leading said flange, abracket fixed to said feed box adjacent said other open end of theshaft, a fixed agitator carried by said bracket and projecting coaxiallyinto said shaft, said agitator having a plurality of radially projectingarms disposed to brush across said spiral intake slot, 'and sealingmeans closing said other open end of rthe shaft between said shaft andsaid relatively coaxial agitator.

2. Automatick feed regulating mechanism for regulating the feeding offiuent solid materials from a hopper into the iiuid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft journalled horizontally acrosssaid box, said shaft having axially, opening ends projecting exteriorlyfrom saidlbox,k one of said open ends serving as a material dischargeport and being in communication with said conveyer to supply materialthereto, in combination with a radially outwardly projecting spiralflange formed on said shaft within said feed box, means for rotatingsaid shaft in a direction whereby said flange will urge the materialengaged thereby in an axial direction away from said discharge port, anda spiral intake slot formed through the cylindrical wall of vsaid shaftcontiguous to and leading said flange, in combination with a bracketfixed to said feed box adjacent said other open end of said shaft, afixed agitator carried by said bracket and projecting coaxially intosaid shaft, said agitator having a plurality of radially projecting armsdisposed to brush across said spiral intake slot, and sealing meansclosing said other open end of said shaft between said shaft and saidrelatively coaxially projecting agitator.

3. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feedingof'fiuent solid materials from a hopper into the fluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft journalled horizontally acrosssaid feed box with one axial end of its hollow interior communicatingwith said pneumatic conveyer to discharge thercinto, means defining aregulable air intake for said pneumatic conveyer immediately adjacentsaid discharge end of the hollow shaft, a radially outwardly projectingspiral ange formed on said shaft within said feed box, and means forrotating said shaft in a direction whereby said harige urges thematerial in contact therewith away from the discharge end of said shaft,said shaft being formed with a spiral material intake slot openingthrough its cylindrical wall into the hollow interior thereof, said slotbeing disposed forwardly of and with its following edge contiguous tosaid ange, in combination witha xed agitator disposed coaxially withinsaid shaft and having radially projecting arms extending into nearengagement with the inner surface of said shaft to brush across saidspiral slot. *Y

4. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for regulating the feeding offluent solid materials from a hopper into the fluid current. of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft journalled horizontally acrosssaid feed box with one axial end of its hollow interior communicatingwith said pneumatic conveyer to discharge thereinto, a radiallyoutwardly projecting spiral flange formed on said shaft, and means forrotating said shaft in a direction whereby said flangel urges thematerial in contact therewith away from the discharge end of said'shaft,said shaftbeing formed with a spiral material intake slot'through itscylindrical wall communicating with the 'hollow' interior thereof, saidslot 'being disposed forwardly of and with its following edge contiguousto said flange, in combination with a fixed agitator disposed coaxiallywithin said shaft' and having radially projecting arms extending intonear engagement with the interior surface of said shaft to brush acrossthe said spiral slot.

5. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feeding offluent solid materials from a hopper into thefluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper', a cylindrical hollow shaft journalled across the interiorof said feed box with its hollow interior in communication with saidpneumatic conveyer to discharge axially thereinto, a radially outwardlyprojecting spiral flange formed on said shaft, and means for rotatingsaid shaft in a direction whereby said flange urges the material engagedthereby in a direction reverse to the flow of material through saidshaft, said shaft being formed with a spiral intake slot through itscylindrical wall communieating with the hollow interior thereof, saidslot being disposed forwardly of and contiguous to said flange incombination with a fixed agitator projecting coaxially into said shaftand having a series of agitator arms in axially coextensive relation tosaid spiral intake' slot. f

6. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feeding offluent solid materials from a hopper into the fluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft journalled across the interiorof said feedbox and having its hollow interior in axial communicationwith said pneumatic conveyer to discharge thereinto, a radiallyoutwardly projecting spiral flange fixed to said shaft, and means forrotating said shaft in a direction whereby said flange urges thematerial engaged thereby in a direction reverse to the axial dischargeof material from its hollow interior, said shaft being formed with anintake slot through its cylindrical wall communicating with the hollowinterior thereof, in combination with a i'lxed agitator supportedcoaxially within said shaft with its operative portion in axiallycoextensive relation to said intake slot.

7. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feeding offluent solid materials from a hopper into the fluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft rotatable within said feed boxand arranged to have its hollow interior in axial communication Vwithsaid conveyer, a radially outwardly projecting fiange carried by saidshaft, and means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being formed withan intake slot contiguous to said fiange communicating with the hollowinterior thereof, in combination with a fixed agitator supportedcoaxially within said shaft with its operative portion in axiallycoextensive relation to said intake slot.

8. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feeding offluent solid materials from a hopper into the fluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft journalled across the interiorof said feed box with its hollow interior in communication with saidpneumatic conveyer to discharge axially thereinto, a radially outwardlyprojecting spiral flange formed on said shaft, and means for rotatingsaid shaft in a direction whereby said flange urges the material engagedthereby in a direction reverse to the discharge of material into saidconveyer, said shaft being formed with a spiral intake slot through itscylindrical wall forwardly of and contiguous to said flange.

9. Automatic feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feeding offluent solid materials from a hopper into the fluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft rotatable within said feed boxand having its hollow interior in axial communication with saidconveyer, a radially outwardly projecting flange carried by said shaft,and means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being formed with anintake slot through its cylindrical wall communicating with its hollowinterior, in combination with a fixed agitator supported coaxiallywithin said shaft with its operative portion in axially coextensiverelation to said intake slot.

10. Automate feed regulating mechanism for controlling the feeding offluent solid materials from -a hopper into the fluid current of apneumatic conveyer comprising a feed box receiving the material fromsaid hopper, a cylindrical hollow shaft rotatable within said feed boxand means for rotating same, the hollow interior of said shaft being incommunication with said l0 pneumatic conveyer, and said shaft beingformed with an intake slot opening into its interior through itscylindrical wall to permit the passage of said materials from said feedbox into said pneumatic conveyer.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a feedbox of a stationary agitator projecting thereinto, a hollow cylindricalshaft encompassing said agitator and rotatable relative thereto, saidshaft being formed with a spiral intake slot through its cylindricalwall and an axially opening discharge port, and a spiral flangeprojecting from the exterior cylindrical surface of said shaftsubstantially contiguous to said spiral slot.

l2. In a device of the character described, a hollow cylindrical feedregulator shaft open at one axial end to dene a discharge port, saidshaft being formed with a spiral intake slot through its cylindricalwall, and a spiral flange projecting from the exterior cylindricalsurface of said shaft substantially contiguous to said spiral slot.

RAY CHARLES ANDRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,026,732 Farley Jan. 7, 1936

